Rashad Evans got back on track last month at UFC 161, defeating Dan Henderson by decision to halt a two fight skid. Afterward, he wasn't quite sure just what his next move would be, but he was considering a drop down to the middleweight division.

He's since changed his mind, as it was reported on Tuesday's "UFC Tonight" program on Fuel TV that Evans is staying at light heavyweight.

"Rashad has nixed a move to 185, and wants to fight in October or so," Ariel Helwani stated on the program. "He zeroed in on the winner of Sonnen vs. Shogun. He says, 'I have a lot of respect for Chael, but I'd really like to fight him.'"

Unfortunately for Evans, Sonnen said on the same program Tuesday night that he's heading back to the middleweight division himself after his fight with Shogun Rua on August 17.

Penick's Analysis: Evans is fine staying at light heavyweight, and if he can perform more like he did in the third round of the Henderson fight going forward he's going to be a contender again in the division. He's got the built in past with Jon Jones, so if Jones sticks around there or doesn't make a heavyweight move permanent, there's still potential for him to get the rematch he wants.

[Rashad Evans art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

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Daniel Cormier is fighting Roy Nelson at UFC 166 in Houston this October, and it was reported on Tuesday's UFC Tonight program on Fuel TV that he's planning on trying to get right into a Light Heavyweight Championship fight afterward.

That idea doesn't sit well with former UFC Light Heavyweight Champ and current top contender Lyoto Machida, who said on Thursday that Cormier should have to get in line if he wants that shot.

"I believe there are rankings, and they should be followed," Machida said on a conference call for UFC 163 (transcribed by BleacherReport.com). "There are a lot of guys in line in this weight class waiting in line to fight for a title. I've been waiting in line. There's Glover Teixeira, there's Phil Davis. So, there's a lot of guys in the mix.

"If [Cormier's] going to move down to 205, he's going to need to put a couple of fights in or at least have a significant win in a big fight. I don't think it's right for him to just come in and cut the line. I think he's going to have to show that he deserves that title shot."

Machida's attempting to get back into a title fight of his own, and a win over Phil Davis next week in Brazil might just put him back in line.

Penick's Analysis: Machida's sentiments are surely shared by many in the division, and it makes sense. They've been fighting their way through the field and have proven their worth at 205 lbs., Cormier's been at heavyweight and will only have two fights under him in the UFC. That said, he'd still be a formidable and acceptable challenger for Jon Jones, so if that's the fight the UFC puts together, the rest of the division will just have to deal with it.

[Lyoto Machida art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

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My good friend Josh Rosebrook and I have a thing that we do … we like to see Courtney Love in concert whenever she comes to town. We don’t expect the shows to be good or anything but, mostly, we like to hope that Courtney will surprise us and deliver a truly outstanding performance. Last [...]

Brazilian welterweight Paulo Thiago has suffered a knee injury, taking him out of a fight against Ultimate Fighter 17 winner Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Fight Night 27, according to a report from Brazil's Globo.

Per the report, Thiago popped his knee in training last week, and the pain had not subsided by this week, forcing his withdrawal from the Aug. 28 event in Indianapolis on Fox Sports 1.

That leaves Gastelum without an opponent just over a month out for his UFC welterweight debut. If he stays on the event, it will be his first fight since winning TUF 17 in the middleweight division in April. The 21-year-old pulled off the upset win over season favorite Uriah Hall, moving his career record to 6-0.

He'll now await a replacement for the event, which will be headlined by the welterweight rematch between Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann.

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07/26/2013

<P>Just weeks after being sent to jail for <a href="/news/articles/1675062/conrad-murray-sentence.jhtml">four years</a> following a conviction on a felony involuntary manslaughter charge in the death of <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jackson_michael/artist.jhtml" target="_blank">Michael Jackson</a>, cardiologist Conrad Murray is throwing himself on the mercy of the court. </P><P> </P><P>The doctor had been slated to earn up to $150,000 a month to act as Jackson's personal physician before the pop icon's death in June 2009 from an overdose of the Murray-administered surgical anesthetic propofol. But on Tuesday <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/conrad_murray_in_shackles_asks/280479" target="_blank"><I>E! News</I></a> reported that Murray filed a <a href="/news/articles/1675343/conrad-murray-conviction-appeal.jhtml">notice of appeal</a> in Los Angeles Superior Court in which he claimed that he is "indigent and respectfully requests the appointment of counsel on appeal." </P><P> </P><P>Murray, 58, is planning to appeal both his conviction and his sentence, but has not yet filed papers with the California Appeals Court. He had hired two lawyers to handle his manslaughter case, but is now seeking attorneys with appeal experience. One of those former lawyers, J. Michael Flanagan, told E! that he was shocked at how his client is being treated in jail. </P><P> </P><P>"It is crazy and unbelievable how [the sheriffs] are treating" Murray in jail, said Flanagan, who claimed he waited over an hour to see Murray, who was brought out in handcuffs and leg chains. Flanagan was further shocked to see Murray handcuffed to the table for their meeting, something the lawyer said he'd never seen before in the case of a low-level, non-violent offender. </P><P> </P><P>Charles Peckham, who is handling civil cases against Murray, told the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/doctor-convicted-in-michael-jacksons-death-seeking-court-paid-attorney-for-appeal/2011/12/13/gIQAHIYGsO_story.html" target="_blank"><I>Associated Press</I></a> that his client is under tight security and isolation that is more intense than other inmates at the Los Angeles Men's Central Jail. </P><P> </P><P>"Treating him like Hannibal Lecter is offensive," said Peckham. "This man who saved lives made a mistake, and they're going to [make] him pay like a mass-murderer." Sheriff's officials defended the tight security, saying it was for Murray's safety.</p>

Fiona Apple called on former collaborator, filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood, The Master) to direct her latest music video, “Hot Knife.” We have the clip for you below. Also, Phish announced that they would be extending their tour unto the fall. And Paramore will also be hitting the road, with supporting bands [...]

Last Tuesday’s SmackDown! taping in Toledo, Ohio was one of the worst attended WWE events in years as it drew 3,200 fans, with only 1,600 paid.
Following the event’s poor advance, WWE only sold tickets facing the camera so the Huntington Center would appear full on television. SLAM! Wrestling columnist Matt Bishop, who attended the event, described the venue’s appearance: “Tuesday’s tapings of WWE Smackdown, Superstars and NXT wasn’t notable because of what happened in the ring, but rather because of what was happening outside the ringside area. Or more appropriately, ...

It's a 'good step' toward happiness in her life, Jordan Miller of Britney fan site Breatheheavy.com says. By Christina Garibaldi

<P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/spears_britney/artist.jhtml">Britney Spears</a> is <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/britneyspears" target="_blank">"still glowing"</a> after longtime boyfriend <a href="/news/articles/1676120/britney-spears-is-engaged.jhtml">Jason Trawick popped the question</a> to the pop star on Friday. The two spent the weekend in Las Vegas, where Spears flashed her Neil Lane engagement ring as they celebrated their upcoming nuptials and Trawick's 40th birthday. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Britney Spears Expert 'Not Surprised' By Engagement" id="vid:720837" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>Friends and family have been showing their support and <a href="/news/articles/1676171/britney-spears-engagement-fan-reaction.jhtml">well-wishes</a> for the couple's upcoming wedding, including Spears' <a href="/news/articles/1676192/britney-spears-engaged-k-fed-comments.jhtml">ex-husband Kevin Federline</a>, who told <a href="http://tvweek.ninemsn.com.au/blog.aspx?blogentryid=963715&showcomments=true" target="_blank"><i>TV Week</i></a> magazine that he was "really happy for her." Yet it seems that no one is as happy for Spears than her die-hard fans. </P><P> </P><P>MTV News spoke with Las Vegas-based webmaster Jordan Miller, who runs Spears' biggest fan site, <a href="http://www.breatheheavy.com/" target="_blank">BreatheHeavy.com</a>, and he told us just how thrilled he is about the news. </P><P> </P><P>"I was pretty excited for Britney when I found out she was engaged," Miller said. "I think it's a good step for her to have some sort of relationship where she can share her feelings and thoughts about her life, so I'm happy for her." </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Britney Spears Engaged To Jason Trawick" id="vid:720382" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>And it seems all of his followers agree. "The overwhelming reaction from fans about the news of Britney's engagement is that they're really happy for her," Miller said. "They think it's such good timing for her, to finish the tour and kind of have a break and be able to start a new chapter in her life. So I think the majority of fans are really happy for Britney and that it's definitely a good step for her." </P><P> </P><P>The news doesn't come as a big shock to Miller, since rumors of Britney's engagement have been swirling for months. </P><P> </P><P>"There were rumors for the last six months pretty much saying he was going to do it in December," Miller said of the couple, who have been <a href="/news/articles/1676167/britney-spears-jason-trawick-engaged-timeline.jhtml">dating since 2009</a>. "So it's cool to see that it actually happened and she's going to get married." </P><P> </P><P>Details have not been released as to when Britney will tie the knot, but it seems Miller already has the perfect wedding gift in mind from all of her fans. </P><P> </P><P>"If fans could get Britney a cool present, it would be a vacation to a tropical island where she didn't have to be around anyone but Jason," Miller said. </P><P> </P><P><i>What do you think of Britney's engagement? Let us know in the comments. </i></p>

Undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather works the heavybag during a training session as he continues to prepare for his highly-anticipated September 14 showdown with undefeated jr. middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Check out how he looks as he puts in hard work in every aspect of training.